The purpose of this letter is to notify you that, on November 1, 2011, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger temporarily suspended Daniel T. Young from his position as the 7th Battalion Representative to the Executive Board of Local 2068, pursuant to Article XI of the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. General President Schaitberger has sent correspondence to Brother Young notifying him of this action and serving him with formal misconduct charges arising from allegations that were made against him in the court action of Bland v. Fairfax County.
Pursuant to Article XI, Mr. Young will be entitled to a hearing regarding these charges by a trial board consisting of three members of the IAFF Executive Board, within thirty days of service of the charges, unless the trial board extends this time for good cause. If Mr. Young is found guilty of the charges, his summary suspension shall become permanent and his office will be declared vacant, thus a special election will take place in accordance with the Local 2068 By-Laws. In accordance with the suspension, all Local 2068 Executive Board voting privileges and financial benefits have been halted pending the final decision of the trial board.
Effective immediately, Local 2068 Health Advocate Dean Cox will be assuming the responsibilities and duties of the 7th Battalion Representative. Dean Cox can be reached by email at DCox@fairfaxfirefighters.org or by phone at 571-221-9108.
I will continue to provide you with updates regarding this situation as it develops.
In Solidarity,
John R. Niemiec
President
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Funeral Services For Horace "Chris" Pendergrass
Fairfax County Firefighter Horace Christopher "Chris" "Teddy" Pendergrass, passed away suddenly on October 22, 2011. Beloved son of James H. Pendergrass and the late Jestine Adams Pendergrass. Loving father of Christian Aniece Adams, Tierra Janiece Pendergrass and Horace Christopher Pendergrass, Jr. Cherished grandfather of Ahmare Antwan Adams.. Dear brother of Natalie Gravette, Robin Gail Pendergrass, Jessica Lynn Jones and Donnell Adams (Eve). The family will receive friends at the EVERLY FUNERAL HOME, 10565 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030 on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 from 6 until 8 PM. Funeral services with honors will be held on Thursday, October 27 at 10 AM at Greater Little Zion Baptist Church, 10185 Zion Drive, Fairfax, VA. Interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Firefighters Fund of Fairfax County, PO Box 401, Fairfax, VA 22038-0401 or Prince of Peace Church, 1543 Summit Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23704
Visitation
Wednesday October 26, 2011
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
*Everly Funeral Home
10565 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 385-1110
Funeral Service
Thursday October 27, 2011
10:00 AM
*Greater Little Zion Baptist Church
10185 Zion Drive
Fairfax, VA 22032
(703) 764-9111
*Parking details will be provided at a later time.
Keith Johnson
Deputy Chief Keith H. Johnson
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A Sad Day In Fairfax County
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department regrets to announce the death of Firefighter Horace C. (“Chris”) Pendergrass assigned to Fire Station 41, B-Shift. Firefighter Pendergrass was an honored employee who served the residents and visitors of Fairfax County for over 20 years. In the early morning hours of October 22, 2011, Chris was found expired after shift change at Fire Station 41. Currently, all units assigned to Fire Station 41 have been placed out of service with many support mechanisms on their way, i.e. Grant McIntosh (Pastor), Bill Prasad (Behavioral Health), Lieutenant Raul Castillo (CRT), Captain Yolanda Hartwell (FIRST).
The Fairfax County Police Department and Office of the Medical Examiner states the cause of death is under investigation and will provide cause at a later date. All notifications to immediate family have been made, and request no phone calls until further notice.
Personnel from Fire Station 41 along with close friends have gathered at FS41 awaiting the respective departure of Firefighter Pendergrass for transport to the State Medical Examiners Office. As soon as arrangements are available, updated announcements will be made when formalized.
Authority of Deputy Chief Keith H. Johnson
Death of Fire & Rescue Dept. Employee at FS441
From: "alert84159@ean.fairfaxcounty.gov"
To: "rsan@ean.fairfaxcounty.gov"
Subject: Emergency Alert from Fairfax County
Date: Sat, Oct 22, 2011 10:16
Notification To all Fire / Rescue personnel: There has been a death of a Fire & Rescue Department employee at Fire Station 441 this morning. Details will be released pending notification of the family. Please refrain from calling FS 441. Again, details will be released as soon as possible.
per DFC Johnson
Sent by Thomas Papoutsis to FD General Notifications (E-mail, Pager, Cell Phone) through the Fairfax County Emergency Alert Network ... powered by Cooper Notification RSAN
To: "rsan@ean.fairfaxcounty.gov"
Subject: Emergency Alert from Fairfax County
Date: Sat, Oct 22, 2011 10:16
Notification To all Fire / Rescue personnel: There has been a death of a Fire & Rescue Department employee at Fire Station 441 this morning. Details will be released pending notification of the family. Please refrain from calling FS 441. Again, details will be released as soon as possible.
per DFC Johnson
Sent by Thomas Papoutsis to FD General Notifications (E-mail, Pager, Cell Phone) through the Fairfax County Emergency Alert Network ... powered by Cooper Notification RSAN
Friday, October 14, 2011
Update from President Niemiec re: Tim Young
Dear Brothers and Sisters -
I am writing to update you regarding our compliance with the membership’s motions related to Executive Board member Daniel Timothy Young. As you recall, the membership directed the Executive Board to obtain and review documents from the court action in Bland v. Fairfax County, including the trial transcript, prior to pursuing any misconduct charges against Brother Young. Upon compilation and review of these documents, and in accordance with the membership’s direction, I formally requested IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger to summarily suspend Brother Young from his position as an Executive Board member of our Local, pursuant to Article XI of the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. Under Article XI, the General President may immediately suspend from office an officer of a local union for misconduct as defined by the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. The suspended officer must be served with formal charges, and is then afforded a hearing on those charges by three IAFF District Vice Presidents. General President Schaitberger provided Brother Young with the opportunity to respond to the allegations that form the basis of this request prior to invoking his authority under Article XI. On October 7, after obtaining an extension of time in which to respond, Brother Young sent his response to the General President in which he denied the allegations forming the basis of my request. The General President’s office is reviewing his response and will determine the next appropriate action shortly.
I will continue to provide you with updates regarding this situation as it develops.
Respectfully Submitted and Fraternally,
John R. Niemiec
President
I am writing to update you regarding our compliance with the membership’s motions related to Executive Board member Daniel Timothy Young. As you recall, the membership directed the Executive Board to obtain and review documents from the court action in Bland v. Fairfax County, including the trial transcript, prior to pursuing any misconduct charges against Brother Young. Upon compilation and review of these documents, and in accordance with the membership’s direction, I formally requested IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger to summarily suspend Brother Young from his position as an Executive Board member of our Local, pursuant to Article XI of the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. Under Article XI, the General President may immediately suspend from office an officer of a local union for misconduct as defined by the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. The suspended officer must be served with formal charges, and is then afforded a hearing on those charges by three IAFF District Vice Presidents. General President Schaitberger provided Brother Young with the opportunity to respond to the allegations that form the basis of this request prior to invoking his authority under Article XI. On October 7, after obtaining an extension of time in which to respond, Brother Young sent his response to the General President in which he denied the allegations forming the basis of my request. The General President’s office is reviewing his response and will determine the next appropriate action shortly.
I will continue to provide you with updates regarding this situation as it develops.
Respectfully Submitted and Fraternally,
John R. Niemiec
President
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
A Sign Of The Times - Front Line Units Being Placed Out of Service
From: "alert78758@ean.fairfaxcounty.gov"
To: "rsan@ean.fairfaxcounty.gov"
Subject: Emergency Alert from Fairfax County
Date: Sat, Jul 2, 2011 16:46
HAVE A UNIT GOING OUT OF SERVICE. NEED A TROT TECH FOR THE PM OR A SOIC. 703-278-0159
Sent by Sean M Wilson to FD Callback, FD Callback TROT, FD Callback-Medic (E-mail, Pager, Cell Phone) through the Fairfax County Emergency Alert Network ... powered by Cooper Notification RSAN
To: "rsan@ean.fairfaxcounty.gov"
Subject: Emergency Alert from Fairfax County
Date: Sat, Jul 2, 2011 16:46
HAVE A UNIT GOING OUT OF SERVICE. NEED A TROT TECH FOR THE PM OR A SOIC. 703-278-0159
Sent by Sean M Wilson to FD Callback, FD Callback TROT, FD Callback-Medic (E-mail, Pager, Cell Phone) through the Fairfax County Emergency Alert Network ... powered by Cooper Notification RSAN
Friday, July 1, 2011
Fairfax County plans to build new public safety center
Amazing! Employees have been asked to go without raises for several years, and Fairfax County can afford to build a new public safety center, at a cost of $149 million! This is bull shit, and Local 2068 needs to tell the BOS that they will not allow employees to continue to take a hit financially, while they splurge on an unnecessary new public safety center.
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20110701/NEWS/707019828/1117/1117/fairfax-county-plans-to-build-new-public-safety-center&template=fairfaxTimes
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20110701/NEWS/707019828/1117/1117/fairfax-county-plans-to-build-new-public-safety-center&template=fairfaxTimes
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sound familiar?
Washington Post story - "Army worries about ‘toxic leaders’ in ranks".
"The Army defined toxic leaders as commanders who put their own needs first, micro-managed subordinates, behaved in a mean-spirited manner or displayed poor decision making.
About half of the soldiers who worked under toxic leaders expected that their selfish and abusive commanders would be promoted to a higher level of leadership."
We're very interested in hearing what you have to say about this article as it relates to the FCFRD. If you wrote the headline what would it read?
"The Army defined toxic leaders as commanders who put their own needs first, micro-managed subordinates, behaved in a mean-spirited manner or displayed poor decision making.
About half of the soldiers who worked under toxic leaders expected that their selfish and abusive commanders would be promoted to a higher level of leadership."
We're very interested in hearing what you have to say about this article as it relates to the FCFRD. If you wrote the headline what would it read?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Bland Trial Transcript Being Reviewed By Local 2068
EDITORS NOTE - The email below was sent out by President Niemiec from Local 2068
The purpose of this email is to update the membership regarding the motions that were passed at the June 1 General Membership meeting. As you recall, a motion was passed to wait until we obtained the record from the Bland v. Fairfax County case, including the trial transcript, before preparing or pursuing Local or IAFF charges seeking the removal of Tim Young from the Local 2068 Executive Board based on the allegations in that case. To date,we have obtained and are reviewing documents related to the Bland case, and
are attempting to obtain a copy of the trial transcript. We will continue to proceed in accordance with the memberships' direction, and to keep you informed regarding our progress in this matter.
The purpose of this email is to update the membership regarding the motions that were passed at the June 1 General Membership meeting. As you recall, a motion was passed to wait until we obtained the record from the Bland v. Fairfax County case, including the trial transcript, before preparing or pursuing Local or IAFF charges seeking the removal of Tim Young from the Local 2068 Executive Board based on the allegations in that case. To date,we have obtained and are reviewing documents related to the Bland case, and
are attempting to obtain a copy of the trial transcript. We will continue to proceed in accordance with the memberships' direction, and to keep you informed regarding our progress in this matter.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Big Eye CAPTION THIS Contest!
Send us your creative captions by posting them in the comments section, and we will announce the winner next week!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Louder I said Louder... Oh no not again!
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_18303280?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Is there anything for us to say about this story? Well they were the lovely couple making over 350K a year and driving two yes two take-home SUVs to the same residence and same location.
Is there anything for us to say about this story? Well they were the lovely couple making over 350K a year and driving two yes two take-home SUVs to the same residence and same location.
New Complaint Filed In Bailey Case
Click the link below to download the complaint filed on June 9, 2011:
http://www.2shared.com/document/MgTT_2NV/Bailey_Complaint.html
http://www.2shared.com/document/MgTT_2NV/Bailey_Complaint.html
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Seriously, is this all you got?
With one sexual harassment lawsuit costing the Fairfax County taxpayers over $350,000 and another pending asking for up to $2,000,000 in awards and a possibility of a couple more being filed in the near future. And now let’s add the Lorton fire which could cost the County approximately $10,000,000 in compensatory damages. The only message that the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Administration wants to focus on. “T-Shirts! T-Shirts!... gasp they are wearing t-shirts!”
Is the wearing of t-shirts really that big of a deal? Or is it the only issue they feel competent enough to manage and address?
The Citizens of Fairfax County and the Board of Supervisors must take action and say enough is enough. Please call, email and write your Board of Supervisors.
This message was sent to C-shifters today from your competent and caring Fire and Rescue Administration -
The intent of the policy is to have us look professional in public. I don't care if you wear white socks under your boots or if you wear a tee-shirt and nomex pants under your gear, but you should have your polo shirt on the truck for the next call. Coveralls are not acceptable unless you were wearing them before the call for the reasons noted above. When you remove your gear, you need to put your polo shirt back on (Being in rehab or racking hose with bunker pants and a Tee-shirt on is acceptable to me....because there is an expectation that firefighters in gear are hot and sweaty...not clean and pressed). Apparatus drivers shall either wear structural firefighting gear, or a class "C" or class "D" uniform on calls.
Acceptable:
• An employee is sleeping and gets up for a call requiring structural firefighting gear. They wear nomex pants and a tee-shirt under their gear (with polo on truck to be worn after gear removal).
• An employee wearing a T-shirt under a polo removes polo prior to donning gear (polo stays on truck to be worn after gear removal).
• An employee doing PT dons structural gear over shorts and a tee shirt.
• An employee removing clothing in the Medical Unit (Rehab), in order to cool off after firefighting in structural gear.
Unacceptable:
• Wearing coveralls while away from the station for non-emergency purposes.
• Wearing coveralls after bedtime.
• Wearing tee-shirts after bedtime on calls when you are not required to wear structural firefighting gear.
• Wearing tee-shirts or coveralls on an EMS call, because "I was just on a suppression call before this".
• Wearing a tee-shirt in the station and keeping your polo on the apparatus.
• Wearing shoes that are not steel toed on the way to or from a PT site.
I expect and appreciate your support and I am available for questions.
Is the wearing of t-shirts really that big of a deal? Or is it the only issue they feel competent enough to manage and address?
The Citizens of Fairfax County and the Board of Supervisors must take action and say enough is enough. Please call, email and write your Board of Supervisors.
This message was sent to C-shifters today from your competent and caring Fire and Rescue Administration -
The intent of the policy is to have us look professional in public. I don't care if you wear white socks under your boots or if you wear a tee-shirt and nomex pants under your gear, but you should have your polo shirt on the truck for the next call. Coveralls are not acceptable unless you were wearing them before the call for the reasons noted above. When you remove your gear, you need to put your polo shirt back on (Being in rehab or racking hose with bunker pants and a Tee-shirt on is acceptable to me....because there is an expectation that firefighters in gear are hot and sweaty...not clean and pressed). Apparatus drivers shall either wear structural firefighting gear, or a class "C" or class "D" uniform on calls.
Acceptable:
• An employee is sleeping and gets up for a call requiring structural firefighting gear. They wear nomex pants and a tee-shirt under their gear (with polo on truck to be worn after gear removal).
• An employee wearing a T-shirt under a polo removes polo prior to donning gear (polo stays on truck to be worn after gear removal).
• An employee doing PT dons structural gear over shorts and a tee shirt.
• An employee removing clothing in the Medical Unit (Rehab), in order to cool off after firefighting in structural gear.
Unacceptable:
• Wearing coveralls while away from the station for non-emergency purposes.
• Wearing coveralls after bedtime.
• Wearing tee-shirts after bedtime on calls when you are not required to wear structural firefighting gear.
• Wearing tee-shirts or coveralls on an EMS call, because "I was just on a suppression call before this".
• Wearing a tee-shirt in the station and keeping your polo on the apparatus.
• Wearing shoes that are not steel toed on the way to or from a PT site.
I expect and appreciate your support and I am available for questions.
More Allegations of Sexual Harassment
A male firefighter has come forward with new allegations of sexual harassment against Jay Iacone that are said to have occurred in 2000. The firefighter making the allegations, George H. Samartino, states he filed a complaint about the harassment to the FRD Internal Affairs Division. Samartino further states that he "received a disturbing call from then-Deputy Chief Ron Mastin. Chief Mastin told me to drop my complaint against Iacone. I was intimidated and shocked by this phone call".
To read the motion filed with the court, click on the download below:
http://www.2shared.com/document/kNlgxpU1/Baileydoc2.html
To read the motion filed with the court, click on the download below:
http://www.2shared.com/document/kNlgxpU1/Baileydoc2.html
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Bailey Case Dismissed?
We are hearing that at least a portion of the Bailey case was dismissed by a federal judge. There are a lot of rumors circulating about this - but we have yet to see any documentation. A reliable source tells us that it wasn't the entire case, it was only a portion of the case. Apparently, the same thing happened with the Gand case.
Once we get more solid information, we will share.
Brother Big Eye
Once we get more solid information, we will share.
Brother Big Eye
Mastin Holds Teleconference
Chief Mastin held a staff teleconference yesterday morning to discuss a variety of topics - one of which was to discuss the recent sexual harassment and hostile work environment cases. In the conference, Chief Mastin described the recent verdict as a "small blip and a little black eye" for the department. He said, "we have a black eye. And if you keep messing with it that black eye will get bigger and won't heal. Leave it alone and it will heal. We're a family."
We are a bit concerned that Chief Mastin considers the recent events a little black eye. His suggestion that we "leave it alone" to let it heal suggests that we should sit back and do nothing. In our humble opinion, the only way for the black eye to heal, is for Chief Mastin to take aggressive action to reduce the possibility of this happening in the future. Unfortunately, Chief Mastin's standard practice has been to do nothing, and hope that it goes away.
What do you think the FC should do to take corrective action? The Big Eye has several suggestions on how this should be handled - and you might be surprised at some of our suggestions. They won't be one-sided, and will likely not settle well with people on both sides of this issue. We want to hear from you first, prior to posting our suggestions.
Brother Big Eye
We are a bit concerned that Chief Mastin considers the recent events a little black eye. His suggestion that we "leave it alone" to let it heal suggests that we should sit back and do nothing. In our humble opinion, the only way for the black eye to heal, is for Chief Mastin to take aggressive action to reduce the possibility of this happening in the future. Unfortunately, Chief Mastin's standard practice has been to do nothing, and hope that it goes away.
What do you think the FC should do to take corrective action? The Big Eye has several suggestions on how this should be handled - and you might be surprised at some of our suggestions. They won't be one-sided, and will likely not settle well with people on both sides of this issue. We want to hear from you first, prior to posting our suggestions.
Brother Big Eye
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Bailey Attorneys File Motion For Sanctions
Sexual Harassment & Hostile Work Environment Complaint Against JJ Walsh Sent Directly To County Executive
Attorneys for Stacey Bailey filed a motion for sanctions to the US District Court last Friday, stating that the Fire & Rescue Department did not comply with a court order to supply all sexual harassment and hostile work environment complaints to the plaintiff. The motion contained a detailed hostile work environment and sexual harassment complaint against Deputy Fire Chief JJ Walsh, which was emailed directly to the County Executive on April 7, 2011. A follow up email was sent to the County Executive on April 20, 2011, asking him to investigate the details of the complaints. To our knowledge, the County Executive never responded to the complaint emails.
The complaint that was sent to the County Executive, contains a long list of alledged improper actions and statements made by Walsh. The complaints include making several vulgar statements about female firefighters, hostile and intimidating arguments with FRD employees, as well as a sexual affair Walsh is said to have had with the wife of a FRD Captain.
The motion also states that the FRD did not take any action on certain complaints, and were selective about investigating others. I should warn you - the graphic details of the complaints against DFC Walsh are disturbing.
The Big Eye would very much like for our readers to read the entire document, and post your thoughts on the complaint itself, as well as what you think should happen next.
To read the entire motion, as well as the complaints sent to the County Executive by email, click on the link below - you will have to wait 45 seconds before you can download the 14 page PDF. If you get a message that says the download is not available - click on your refresh button until it allows you to download.
***UPDATE*** The prior link would not work for some reason - try this link, and let me know if you have any problems downloading it:
http://www.2shared.com/document/aLYd2UDT/JJ_Walsh_Complaint.html
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Details of Bailey's Lawsuit
I just spent the better part of an hour reading the Bailey lawsuit. I don't know the plaintiff - the graphic detail of this complaint is nausiating. Honestly - I am having a difficult time understanding how this could go on, as the suit describes. I am not saying it didn't happen - I can't comprehend how it could go on for so long, at several different work locations without someone stepping in and putting a stop to it. Read and decide for yourself:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WGACLRKD
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WGACLRKD
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